First couple weeks of OCW

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oerllikon

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Hey guys, I recently got a CZ 75, so I figured I might as well carry it. A lot of people here in WI love firearms, but still a lot of people dont know too much about them, and are afraid of them. In WI we can only open carry, so I got a holster and open carried. I had been going to parties with my friends (Designated Driver), and most people like to see it (unloaded of course), I did go in the pawn america with just the holster, red t shirt and khakis (black nylon holster, very visible) and had one lady look at the holster, then shoot my a dirty look. I had an employee approach me and asked if I carried a gun, and I told him I did. I reminded him of drive bys and other illicit activities in the area. When I left there was another employee who looked as nervous as a cat and I overheard him asking "does he really have a gun?"'
There was another time in Wal-Mart (the ultimate test) where I went in with a yellow work shirt some black jeans. I got a few looks, and one dude I talked to just gave me a grin, not really sure why... Nothing major so far.. Any HR-ers had any run ins or awkward happenings while carrying?
 
Let me get this straight, you are passing around your firearm at parties where there are intoxicated people? Dude, really?
 
Alot to learn our friend oerllikon. I'm glad you asked the question, as you're about to get alot of information on this thread. I'd pay attention.

Open carry is dangerous. It's dangerous to you mostly, especially when you first start. You need to understand handgun retention if you are going to open carry. At a party with people drinking, I'd lock up the gun somewhere very safe and unloaded. It only takes one <deleted> to think they are cute for someone to get really hurt.

Now, with that said, do a search here on open carry vs. ccw. It's a world of difference. With CCW, you don't have as much of the stigma. You because of the laws in your state have open carry as your only option. Fight for CCW with your local reps if at all possible, and let them know the benifits. It's a long argument here on which is better, I'm not trying to debate this, I just want you to check out the discussions in the past here.


Oh, and to answer your original question, most people I've encountered open carrying thought I was an undercover cop. :D

oerllikon, I hope you take no offense to my post. Thanks.
 
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Yo Mama mentioned that, Gord.

Across the lake here in Michigan, we have both open and concealed carry options. I've noticed out in the more rural areas people open carry, but less and less frequently. I don't know if thats because they got a CPL, or just decided to leave the guns at home. During hunting season, it's no strange sight to see folks walking down the road, again rural, with a rifle/ shotgun with a pistol hanging from their hip. Not so common the rest of the year. Michigan does have an abundance of Pistol Free Zones (read Victim Available Zones) which, according to the laws of the state, allow CPL holders to open carry. Odd, I know. I was confused by it myself.
At some point this year, I am getting my first hand gun, and I also plan to experiment with open carry. I'm pretty used to having a gun on my hip, carried an M-9 many times in the service, so I'm pretty on top of retention of the weapon. Kinda have to be when dealing with people who want nothing more than see you dead. I have to +1 with those who mentioned passing a gun, unloaded or otherwise, at a party where people are drinking is a bad idea. You may be sober, but still just a bad idea.

As long as you open carry, expect people to react differently. No, it's not illegal, but at the same time, most city folk are ignorant about firearms, and think only cops and bad guys carry guns. Sadly, many 'sheeple' abandoned their RTKABA because the guv'mint said they would protect and serve. I support your decision to open carry, but I stress the higher level of sitational awareness and responsibility it carries with it. Also, don't let the unwashed masses paw at your gun because they think its cool. It isn't. You hopefully aren't wearing your gun to look cool, I would hope, so don't play show and tell with it.

As for the person who gave you a dirty look, it isn't just with guns. I took my dogs (American bulldogs) to the pet store the other day, and a lady gave my wife and my dogs a dirty look and mumbled that 'they shouldn't be allowed' in the store, where many other people had their dogs. Ignorant people often confuse the ABD with a pitbull, although for the life of me I can't see how, they look nothing alike. People fear what they don't understand, be it a muscular looking dog, or a big black pistol. Neither one are inherantly evil, but ignorance propogates the myth that they are. At least, that is my experience.
 
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FatPants - Let me get this straight, you are passing around your firearm at parties where there are intoxicated people? Dude, really?
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Looks pretty clear that he only said he was a DD and that some folks like to look at his gun(UNLOADED). Nothing about intoxicated individuals. I dont see any questions on advice about his personal life. Just questions about how people have reacted to one of us who open carry.



On topic.

I dont have open carry here in Texas, but I have in the past thought, well wouldnt it be nice....

Then I think, hrm im not so sure id like that. Ill just keep it concealed. Some people get crazy when they see a gun, id rather not have the confrontations.

Its rediculous we live in a world that just because we enjoy firearms people think we are physco killers.:banghead:
 
Open carry in most places draws attention because it is rare. In places where it has long been an option, there seems to be less of a stigma. It's something you and the "sheeple" have to get used to. The stigma, like so many others, goes away when what was rare becomes commonplace.

Weapon retention is important. A good holster and a sturdy gun belt are a must. But situational awareness is even more important. Read up on Jeff Cooper's States of Awareness.

The two nice things about open carry are that it's more comfortable - no stuffing a pistol in your pants - and you generally can carry more gun - a full-size pistol with a double-stack magazine, for example, or a Magnum revolver that is big enough to handle the round. CCW can be a real pain, depending on what the law says about accidental exposure - Texas' former standards for printing were extremely strict and getting made under any circumstances could cost you your CHL.

As to whether it's wise or not, there are plenty of threads at THR where OC versus CCW have been argued to death with negative examples on both sides. Right now, oerllikon's only option is open carry, so there's not really much point in us telling him it's a bad thing - especially when we don't have any real proof that that is so.
 
I agree chevyman, 3-years ago when i got my permit here in MN it is defined as a "pistol permit" so we can choose to carry open or concealed, at first i carried openly and was proud of it,didnt care what others thought. Now after a couple years i've realized that i live in a community full of "sheeple" so i have adapted and modified my carry status to be open,but discreet (black grips on gun,black holster,black shirt) I ocassionally get people staring at me at wal-mart or the grocery store but it's been around long enough that most people assume im an off-duty LEO or something, Point is you dont want to shove it in their face, it's just like telling your teenager NOT to do something, they react just the oppisite,, Get rid of that cheap nylon holster and replace it witha nice Galco or Serpa-retention style and dress to blend in , not stick out, you'll be more comfortable also knowing that nobody else "knows",, just your lil secret
 
Looks pretty clear that he only said he was a DD and that some folks like to look at his gun(UNLOADED). Nothing about intoxicated individuals. I dont see any questions on advice about his personal life. Just questions about how people have reacted to one of us who open carry.
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The way I read it, is that he is the DD for intoxicated persons at parties, where he is letting people see his unloaded gun. I guess we need clarification on the word "see" because it could mean "look at" or "hold" depending on how he chose to use it.
 
FatPants said:
The way I read it, is that he is the DD for intoxicated persons at parties, where he is letting people see his unloaded gun. I guess we need clarification on the word "see" because it could mean "look at" or "hold" depending on how he chose to use it.
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I dont really understand where we "need" clarification.

As you obviously stated too. He is the DD for intoxicated people. No where does he state these are the people he is showing the gun to. No where does he make any mention of showing the gun to intoxicated peoples.

The question of the OP was not "what do you think about me showing my gun to people at parties?"

Seems like some folks here feel the need to pick everyones posts apart all the time and comment on "assumptions". I guess we can make assumptions all day long, but that wouldnt be on topic. I assume he is not the only sober person there and leave it alone. Not like there is really anything you can do about it if he is.....short of smash the keyboard and flame him over the internet.:rolleyes:

Forgive me, im going off topic. :banghead:



back on topic:

I completely agree Texasbill. I would love to see it be the "norm" but unfortunately its not. :(

I guess some times we just have to adapt until things get better. Not that I guess things in Texas are so bad, its a pretty free state, and I think I would still conceal if open was legal. I do worry a lot about printing, not many folks around me carry so I feel like the od ball. Maybe im just paranoid and read too much on the internet. Ive heard that printing or getting "made" as others have put it can be a bad situtation.

Wish the laws were a little more relaxed. That or I knew more that carried.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. To clear up confusion, If i feel that the person that I am about to hand my unloaded firearm to is not capable of doing so safely, acting drunk and belligerent, or tries to pull it out of my holster without my permission(which one idiot did to me twice, and apparently to my other OC friend), then they dont get to see it. If they arent obviously drunk, and I know that they have taken a hunters safety course and know how to safely handle a firearm, then i show it to them (UNLOADED)

I replaced the nylon one with a fobus, which fits wya too tight for some reason, but well save that for another thread

Thanks for the links, I read states of awareness, and I think I constantly hover between yellow and orange. Im always suspicious unless im given a reason not to be. Its probably not a good thing...
 
oerllikon said:
Thanks for the replies guys. To clear up confusion, If i feel that the person that I am about to hand my unloaded firearm to is not capable of doing so safely, acting drunk and belligerent, or tries to pull it out of my holster without my permission(which one idiot did to me twice, and apparently to my other OC friend), then they dont get to see it. If they arent obviously drunk, and I know that they have taken a hunters safety course and know how to safely handle a firearm, then i show it to them (UNLOADED)
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Dont even worry about replying to those keyboard warriors that never leave their house or have any idea about what actually goes on in the real world....IMO

:rolleyes:
 
Dont even worry about replying to those keyboard warriors that never leave their house or have any idea about what actually goes on in the real world....IMO
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You know me so well.
 
Spray and wipe off the fobus with a little silicon spray, helps a bit. The fobus actually acts as a slight retention holster (you need to pull in a certain way or it won't come out). Still not great, the paddle can shear off with some rotational force, but better than a nylon job.

Trust me, I am from the internet.
 
I have a self esteem problem I think. I hate the thought of OC (Unless I am hunting) because I cant get over the fact that some will think I am a cop. I respect LE, and would not want to be thought of as impersonating them even if it were accidental. Again, that is my hang up.

Same goes when working EMS... when I am working (Getting paid to work a 12 hour shift.... at the station...) I wear my uniform. When I volly in the evenings. I just wear plain clothes. Again, my own hangup as I do not want to be looked at as a "whacker".

As far as letting others handle your guns... there are many people I would let handle my guns.... (Friends at the club, my brother, probably even many of you here if I were meeting you for the first time) but for the most part I would decline. First of all, you carry for protection. At a party, around drunk people I would venture a guess your need for SD is increased over say, a trip to wally world... You unload your gun, and give it to someone else at this time? I would reconsider this practice. By politely declining and offering to bring them to the range sometime you would create more of a respect for the gun, and probably get some takers.

Have fun!
 
Here in Ohio we are fortunate to have the ability to open carry. Even so, there are certain cities that frown upon our freedom. We have an organization called Ohioans for Concealed Carry (OFCC) that also promotes our open carry rights.

Members of OFCC have what we call Meet & Greet events all across the state. Members post a location, date and time on the forum in the Ohio Open Carry Discussions section and members that are able to will meet up at the location and open carry as a group.

I will post a link at the end for any fellow Ohioans that may be interested in being a member. You can sign up for free on the site but I would recomend that you become a site supporter as they do alot for our right to keep and bear arms. If you are in the area of one of the M&G feel free to join in even if you aren't a member.

There's a M&G scheduled in NW Ohio in Lima on 3/5/11 at 4:30pm after the local gun show at the Allen Co. Fairgrounds. The location is:

Happy Daz
1064 Bellefontaine Ave.
Lima, Ohio 45804



Link:
http://ohioccwforums.org/index.php
 
I live in VA, and I have been OC for 2 months now, with no problems here. Normally its a OWB holster with a 5 inch N-frame, and 95% of people never even notice if you know how to dress. If all you can do in your state is OC, then you are within your rights. The OC crowd is big on educating the "sheeple" but Im not comfortable with that personal discussion/promity with people being uneducated and curious about my gun. Regardless, carry on. Also, people will mistake you for being a police officer and thats ok as long as you dont do or say anything to suggest you are. I got 2 doughnuts and a free coffee last week because the clerk assumed I was a cop. Keep doing what your doing, but be wise about where you do it-
 
or tries to pull it out of my holster without my permission(which one idiot did to me twice, and apparently to my other OC friend), then they dont get to see it.
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So you decided to continue your standard operating proceedure even after that! Wow, I'd say after the first time you'd learn. :banghead: LEAVE THE GUN AT HOME.

Dont even worry about replying to those keyboard warriors that never leave their house or have any idea about what actually goes on in the real world....IMO
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Wow, I was out of my house this morning I think. I may be out of the house right now in the real world. Silly us, just wanting the lad to be safe, silly silly silly.

If they arent obviously drunk, and I know that they have taken a hunters safety course and know how to safely handle a firearm, then i show it to them (UNLOADED)
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So you're still unloading and loading the gun at a party?
 
If you are in my home and you want to see one of my guns, it is most likely under conditions where I am in control of the situation and all activities going on around us. If you are in my home it is a good bet I completely trust you, so I'll break out whatever it is you ask to see. If I am carrying outside the house there is only one reason I will take my gun out of its holster (baring interactions with LE) and it would not be to play show and tell at a party.

A carry piece, in a holster, tends not to discharge, a gun being handled stands a far greater chance of launching a projectile unexpectedly. A gun being carried is a weapon, it is not a party favor. Treat it with the respect it deserves and it is less likely to bite the hand that feeds it.

A friend playfully tugging on my holstered gun has just left the friend list and I would still expect him to pay for having his teeth removed from my elbow.

The holster without the gun seems a lot like driving a car without tires, it can be done but I don't know why you would do it.
 
JRSpicer426 said:
I got 2 doughnuts and a free coffee last week because the clerk assumed I was a cop. Keep doing what your doing, but be wise about where you do it-
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You sir, are the man!
I OC on occasion here in NC. Its a little risky here because NC is only a theoretical OC state. There's no law that says you can, no law says you can't. We have the whole "going to the terror of the public" garbage that makes it a little dicey. In rural areas or small towns like the one I live in its usually OK. I was once confronted by an older woman who was a bit surprised to see a Glock while shopping for groceries, but I took the opportunity to educate her a little and hopefully she came away feeling that I was a nice young man and not some paranoid freak.
I live about 25 miles from downtown Charlotte. I wouldn't want to risk walking around the city with a gun on my hip. All it would take is 1 yuppie who has never seen a gun before to call 911 and 1 police officer having a bad day (or just a bad attitude in general) and I could be in cuffs and have my gun taken away from me and possibly have a criminal charge that prevents me from ever purchasing a firearm again. Just know your surroundings. Even if its perfectly legal in your area, you don't want to upset anyone and make responsible gun owners look like jerks
 
I'm going to subscribe to this thread and probably regret it.

I open carrry every day in Washington state including such places as downtown Seattle and SEATAC Airport. My experience has been that 95% of people either don't notice, or show no indication of noticing. 4% are supportive enough they will say something nice. 1% are clearly against and of that 1% about 1% of those will call 911... which really does not matter because most times the dispatcher will tell them there is nothing going on to dispatch police for.
 
i live in WI and conceal carry every day with one in the pipe. i have a wallet holster and it doesnt imprint, i drive a low key midsize luxury car, im 30, and have a pretty decent record so there is almost NO chance of getting caught with it. and on the chance that i would HAVE to use it, whatever consequences that would come of me having a concealed firearm and using it would be WONDERFUL compared to getting shot dead because i complacent with a **** law.

OP here seems to have lived a life void of attention and has obviously found a way to fix that by open carrying and flashing it around like a cool new toy.

open carry all you want, but be responsible please:)
 
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